03
Meher
"Girl, what happened to you?", She asked, her tone laced with deep concern as she gently grasped my chin, tilting my face up to meet her gaze, her eyes scanning my features with worry.
I locked eyes with Meher, the dark circles and bags under my own eyes a stark testament to the previous night's all-nighter, spent binge-watching anime until the early hours of dawn. A nervous smile crept onto my face, anticipating her disapproving look for my lack of sleep.
Meher
"Didn't I specifically warn you about pulling all-nighters for the sake of anime?"
Meher
"You're literally killing yourself over anime, you know that?" she said, her voice laced with exasperation and concern.
Sara
"Yeah, yeah, got it. Sorry, general," I said with a sheepish grin, trying to lighten the mood.
Meher
"Seriously, cut it out with the jokes. This isn't funny," ,she said, her expression stern with concern.
As she continued to scold me, I caught sight of Aariz sauntering towards us out of the corner of my eye, a subtle eye roll escaping my control. I had specifically told him to give me space yesterday, and his timing couldn't be more inconvenient.
Aariz
"Hey, looks like someone's in trouble," Aariz said with a smirk, his eyes flicking between Meher's stern face and my sheepish one.
Sara
"Why are you here?," asked, my tone laced with annoyance, not even bothering to look at him fully.
Aariz
"Ah, still as charming as ever," Aariz said with a grin, completely unfazed by my irritation.
Aariz
"I figured I'd drop by to see if you'd changed your mind about ignoring me," Aariz said, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes.
Meher
Meher's eyes flash with annoyance as she glares at Aariz, her expression stern and disapproving.
Aariz
Aariz raised an eyebrow, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "What's with the death stare?" he asked, a hint of amusement coloring his voice.
Aariz
"Could it be you're actually feeling a little possessive?" He asked, his smirk growing wider as he watched her reaction.
Meher
"Jealous? Of you?" Meher let out a laugh, the sound dismissive and amused. "You really think pretty highly of yourself, don't you?"
Meher
"You're no match for me," she said with a confident smirk.
Aariz
"Oh, is that so?" he said to Meher. "But I'm going to make Sara fall in love with me. You can continue being her best friend forever."
Meher
Meher's jaw clenched, her teeth grinding together in annoyance as a spark of anger flashed in her eyes.
Aariz
"You'd never even think of fighting me for her, would you?" He said with a smirk, his tone dripping with amusement and a hint of challenge.
Meher
Meher rose from her chair, her movements swift and agitated, her eyes never leaving his face.
Sara
"Enough," I said firmly, stepping in between them to break the tense atmosphere.
Sara
"What are you two even fighting for?"
Aariz
Aariz shrugged silently, his eyes still fixed on Meher, the tension between them lingering in the air.
As I gazed at Meher's angry expression, confusion washed over me. Why was she so furious? What was she fighting for? I thought about our friendship and how close we were. Did she think Aariz would change my bond with her? But Aariz wasn't even my type - the idea of falling for him seemed absurd. Still, Meher's intensity puzzled me. Was she worried I'd drift away from her? Or was there something more beneath her anger?
The sudden bell silenced our conversation, and we took our seats. I sat beside Meher, glancing at her profile. Her silence was unusual, and I couldn't shake off the feeling of guilt that settled in my chest. What was I feeling guilty about, exactly? I hadn't done anything wrong, had I? The uncertainty lingered as I watched her, hoping she'd break the silence.
The lunchroom bustled around us, a stark contrast to the tension at our table. I glanced at Meher, her silence now bordering on oppressive. I felt a growing sense of unease, unsure how to bridge the gap between us. With a gentle nudge, I decided to reach out to her, hoping to reconnect.
Sara
I placed a hand on her arm, my voice firm but laced with concern. "Hey, seriously, what's going on? You're really scaring me with this silence."
Meher
"Don't talk to him," she muttered under her breath.
Sara
"What did you say? I didn't catch that."
Her gaze locked onto mine, and for a moment, I was struck by the depth of emotion in her eyes. The vulnerability there was unfamiliar, and it left me speechless. Meher was always the bright spot in my day, and seeing her like this, twisted something in my chest. I felt a pang of concern and a strong urge to understand what was troubling her.
Meher
"Do you really like Aariz?" she asked, her voice laced with an emotion I couldn't quite decipher.
Meher
"Be honest," she added, her gaze intense.
Sara
"Isn't that what I said yesterday? I’m not into him at all."
Meher
"You didn't seem bothered when he talked to you," she pointed out.
Sara
"Meher, is everything okay? You're acting weird because of Aariz, aren't you?"
Meher
Meher's glare turned icy as I said his name.
Sara
I trailed off, smiling awkwardly as Meher's glare deepened.
Meher
"I don't like him. He's annoying," she said, looking away.
Sara
"Yeah, that's true," I admitted with a nod
Sara
"So, you were just jealous?" I teased, a smirk playing on my lips.
Meher
"I'm not," she muttered, cheeks flushing.
Sara
I chuckled, the sound low and teasing. "Don't tell me you're secretly crushing on me or anything," I said, grinning at her.
Sara
"Kidding, I can barely picture us as a couple. Though, I guess it wouldn't be bad if you were a guy," I said with a shrug.
Meher
Her expression darkened, and the lighthearted moment was replaced by a familiar gloom.
Sara
"Hey, are you okay?" I asked, concern creeping into my voice as I studied her expression.
Meher
"I'm fine," she said, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
Sara
"Okay, if you say so," I said, clearly unconvinced.
I locked eyes with her again, and the fragile smile she’d been holding onto faltered for a moment. The vulnerability in her gaze hit me like a punch to the gut. I knew she wasn’t fine—not even close. The guilt gnawed at me, knowing I’d pushed her to pretend everything was okay just to spare me. I wondered what was really going on behind those eyes, what she was bottling up, and why she felt like she couldn’t share it with me.
I watched Meher force herself through the day, pretending everything was fine. But I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd unknowingly crossed a line. If only I could read minds. Frustration simmered inside me. Should I push her for answers? Probably not – she'd just brush me off. Understanding human emotions felt impossible, like trying to solve a puzzle with missing pieces. Maybe psychologists really were the unsung heroes, deciphering the complexities of the human mind while scientists tackled equations.
Just then, Aariz appeared out of nowhere to disturb my thoughts, his smirk a bad omen. Great, just what I didn't need – him. Aariz's timing was impeccable – awful, as always. I turned to face him, a scowl already forming on my face. Couldn't he sense I was in no mood for his nonsense today? His presence felt like a storm cloud hovering over an already terrible day.
Aariz
"Why do you always look like you're about to rip my head off when you're around me?" Aariz asked, a smug grin spreading across his face.
Sara
"So, you can see I'm pissed, and yet you're not taking the hint, huh? Just wonderful," I thought to myself, frustration simmering. I took a deep breath and walked away, shaking my head slightly.
Aariz
"Come on, don't ignore me," Aariz said, his footsteps echoing behind me as he followed.
Suddenly, someone tugged at my wrist, and Meher's fingers wrapped around it, pulling me toward her. I met her gaze, surprised by the firmness of her grip.
Meher
"Can't you see she's not interested?" Meher's voice was firm, her eyes flashing with annoyance. "Just leave her alone."
Aariz
"And what if I refuse to?" Aariz sneered, a hint of arrogance creeping into his voice.
Meher
"Meher's eyes narrowed, her jaw clenched in frustration. "No matter what you do, she won't fall for your crap," she said, her voice low and even.
Aariz
"Who are you to decide what's good for her?" Aariz sneered, his tone implying Meher was overstepping.
"Not again," I thought, feeling like a spectator in my own life as they clashed. Meher's grip was tightening, her fingers digging into my skin. I winced, meeting her gaze. She immediately relaxed her hold, releasing my wrist as if burned.
Meher
"I'm sorry," Meher said softly, her eyes searching mine for forgiveness.
Sara
"No worries," I murmured, smiling slightly to reassure her.
Meher
"Anyway, go to class," Meher said, nodding toward the classroom.
Sara
"Why?" I repeated, glancing at Aariz, still lingering nearby. "Because of him?"
Meher
"Just go," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
I nodded, still confused, and headed toward the classroom, leaving Meher and Aariz behind.
After a while, I watched as they return to class, Aariz's stunned expression and Meher's fidgety demeanor sparked curiosity. To an outsider, it might seem like Meher had just confessed something to Aariz, but I knew better. Given their history, it was clear something else was brewing. And judging by their closed-off body language, I was sure neither would spill the beans anytime soon. For now, it seemed I'd have to content myself with speculation.
The silence between us was stifling as we walked home, Aariz and Meher both lost in thought. Once I was inside my home, my mind replayed their earlier encounter, curiosity gnawing at me like an itch I couldn't scratch. I escaped into anime, the digital world a refuge from the unspoken tension that clung to me like a shadow. If this continued, I'd either solve the mystery or succumb to anime addiction.
Comments